Michael White, professor and department head from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, talks about swimmer’s ear and how you can prevent it.
Swimmer’s ear is caused by an infection of the ear canal. When water is trapped in the ear after swimming, bacteria can grow causing the infection. The good news is treatment is as simple as ear drops.
To prevent swimmer’s ear, experts recommend you tilt your head from side to side to let the water flow out after swimming. If you are prone to swimmer’s ear, you can use ear plugs to prevent water from getting in your ear canal.
White says people should also be aware of bacteria levels when playing a trip to a state park or beach. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection sometimes closes swimming areas due to elevated bacteria levels.